Hard disk drive protection system and method

ABSTRACT

A hard disk drive protection system comprises a sensor configured to detect an impending shock event and a hard drive protection module configured to determine whether to issue a fast park command for a hard disk drive in response to detecting the impending shock event based on a permissible quantity of fast park cycles for the hard disk drive.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The effectiveness of protecting hard disk drives in shock events,especially those following events such as a free fall event (e.g.,dropping a device containing a hard disk drive), is dependent on thelength of time between detecting the event and parking of the head(s).Accordingly, if the time between prediction of an impending shock eventand parking of the disk drive head(s) can be reduced, especially in freefall events, the likelihood of damage to the disk drive may besubstantially reduced and/or eliminated. However, the faster the head(s)of the disk drive is parked, the greater risk of damage to the head(s)and other internal components of the disk drive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and theobjects and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the followingdescriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of an electronicdevice in which an embodiment of a hard disk drive protection system isemployed to advantage; and

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a hard diskprotection method for an electronic device in accordance with thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiments of the present invention and the advantagesthereof are best understood by referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of thedrawings, like numerals being used for like and corresponding parts ofthe various drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of an electronic device 8in which an embodiment of a hard disk drive protection system 10 isemployed to advantage. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1,electronic device 8 may comprise any type of electronic device having ahard disk drive 20 such as, but not limited to, portable computerdevices, personal digital assistants, music players, gaming devices,etc.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, hard disk drive protectionsystem 10 comprises a processor 14, a sensor 16, a memory 18 and harddisk drive 20. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, sensor 16 may beany type of sensor that detects the forces acting on electronic device 8(and hard disk drive 20). For example, sensor 16 may comprise athree-axis digital accelerometer or other type of sensing element fordetecting relative movement of electronic device 8. In the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 1, memory 18 comprises a hard drive protectionmodule 12 and a database 22. Hard drive protection module 12 maycomprise hardware, software, firmware or a combination thereof. In FIG.1, hard drive protection module 12 is illustrated as being stored inmemory 18 so as to be accessible and/or executable by processor 14.However, it should be understood that hard drive protection module 12may be otherwise stored.

In operation, sensor 16 is communicatively coupled to processor 14and/or hard drive protection module 12. In response to detecting animpending a shock event via sensor 16 (e.g., detecting dropping ofelectronic device 8 and/or otherwise predicting an impending collision),hard drive protection module 12 sends a command to processor 14 and/orhard disk drive 20 to park the head(s) of hard disk drive 20 on anadjacent support member so as to be securely positioned apart from arotating media of hard disk dive 20. Hard drive protection module 12 isconfigured to send a signal to processor 14 and/or hard disk drive 20 topark the head(s) using a fast park command (e.g., removing the head fromthe rotating media with a maximum and/or high level of force and placingthe head on the adjacent support with minimal deceleration of the headassembly before it contacts the support) upon predicting an impendinghigh impact shock event, such as for example, a free fall event.However, the life of a hard disk drive is substantially reduced whenusing fast park commands due to the impact forces resulting from minimaldeceleration of the head. For example, a fast park cycle results insubstantially increased wear of a hard disk drive compared to the amountof wear experienced from a normal park cycle.

Embodiments of the present invention monitor the frequency and/orquantity of processed fast park cycles for hard disk drive 20 anddetermine whether to issue a fast park command based on thefrequency/quantity of previously processed cycles and/or the particularshock event. Thus, in some embodiments of the present invention, if thetotal number of processed fast park cycles (e.g., removing the head fromthe rotating media and frictionally engaging the support) exceeds amaximum number of permissible fast park cycles for a particular harddisk drive 20, hard drive protection module 12 sends a signal toprocessor 14 and/or hard disk drive 20 to park the head(s) in a normalpark mode (e.g., removing the head from the rotating media usingcontrolled acceleration and placing the head on the adjacent supportwith a controlled deceleration of the head before it contacts thesupport).

In other embodiments of the present invention, if the total number ofprocessed fast park cycles reaches a maximum number of permissible fastpark cycles for a particular hard disk drive 20, a fast park command maycontinue to be issued and processed while a warning or othernotification that the quantity of fast park cycles for the particularhard disk drive 20 has been exceeded is indicated to the user (e.g.,notifying the user via a display device or otherwise that successivefast park cycles may cause failure or damage to the hard disk drive 20and recommending service or replacement of hard disk drive 20). In theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, hard disk drive 20 comprises anon-volatile memory 24 for storing the number of fast park cyclesprocessed by hard disk drive 20 (e.g., stored as processed fast parkcycles 25). Thus, in this example, even though the permissible quantityof fast park cycles for the particular hard disk drive 20 has beenreached, successive fast park cycles are processed and the successivefast park cycles logged (e.g., in memory 24).

Embodiments of the present invention also indicate to a user thequantity of processed fast park cycles relative to a permissiblequantity of fast park cycles for the particular hard disk drive 20. Forexample, in some embodiments of the present invention, hard driveprotection module 12 is configured to issue an alert and/or otherwisenotify a user that the permissible quantity of fast park cycles for theparticular hard disk drive 20 is being approached or has been met andthat service or replacement of hard disk drive 20 is recommended.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, database 22 comprises detectiondata 28, relational data 30 and fast park cycle data 31. Detection data28 comprises information associated with forces acting on electronicdevice 8 (and thus hard drive 20) that are detected by sensor 16.Relational data 30 comprises known and/or predetermined value rangescorresponding to typical force values detected by sensor 16 forparticular shock prediction events (e.g., a free fall condition whenelectronic device 8 is dropped). Fast park cycle data 31 comprisesinformation associated with a quantity of permissible fast park cyclesfor a particular hard disk drive and/or a quantity of processed fastpark cycles for a particular hard disk drive. For example, fast parkcycle data 31 may comprise information associated with a quantity ofpermissible fast park cycles for a plurality of different types, models,manufactured, etc., of hard disk drives such that, for the particularhard disk drive installed in electronic device 8, the permissiblequantity of fast park cycles for the particular hard disk drive can bedetermined (e.g., especially since hard disk drives can be replaced).Further, fast park cycle data 31 comprises information associated with aquantity of fast park cycles performed for a particular hard disk driveinstalled in electronic device 8 to determine whether another fast parkcommand may be issued for the particular hard disk drive. While harddrive protection module 12 and database 22, including detection data 28,relational data 30 and fast park cycle data 31, are illustrated as beingstored separate from sensor 16 (e.g., in memory 18), it should beunderstood that sensor 16 may be configured to store hard driveprotection module 12 and database 22 directly thereon to facilitate theissuance of a fast park command.

In operation, detection data 28 is compared to relational data 30 byhard drive protection module 12 to determine whether a shock event ispredicted to occur. If detection data 28 falls within a predeterminedvalue range indicated by relational data 30 for predicting a particulartype of shock event, disk protection module 12 transmits and/orotherwise generates a software interrupt or other signal to park thehead of hard drive 20. In each instance that a fast park occurs, harddrive protection module 12 transmits a log event to memory 24 of harddisk drive 20 to record in memory 24 that a fast park cycle has beenprocessed by hard disk drive 20. For example, in response to electronicdevice 8 being dropped (e.g., a free fall), detection data 28 generatedby sensor 16 is compared to relational data 30 by hard drive protectionmodule 12 to detect the free fall condition. In response to determiningthe free fall condition, hard drive protection module 12 transmits asignal to cause a fast park command to be issued to park the head(s) ofhard disk drive 20. The fast park cycle is also logged in memory 24 ofhard disk drive 20.

Embodiments of the present invention monitor the frequency and/orquantity of processed fast park cycles for hard disk drive 20 anddetermine whether to issue a fast park command based on thefrequency/quantity of previously processed fast park cycles. Forexample, in operation, hard drive protection module 12 accesses fastpark cycle data 31 to determine a quantity of permissible fast parkcycles for the particular hard disk dive 20 in electronic device 8.Additionally, hard drive protection module 12 accesses and/or otherwisedetermines the quantity of previously processed fast park cycles for theparticular hard disk drive 20 in device 8 (e.g., based on processed fastpark cycles 25 in memory 24). If the quantity of processed fast parkcycles 25 is less than the predetermined permissible amount of fast parkcycles for hard disk drive 20 based on fast park cycle data 31, harddrive protection module 12 issues and/or otherwise causes to issue asignal to fast park the head(s) of hard disk drive 20 in response todetecting an impending shock event. However, if the quantity ofprocessed fast park cycles 25 is equal to the predetermined permissibleamount of fast park cycles for hard disk derive 20 based on fast parkcycle data 31, hard drive protection module 12 instead issues and/orotherwise causes a signal to park the head(s) of hard disk drive 20 viaa normal park mode in response to an impending shock event shock event.Alternatively, hard drive protection module 12 may be configured toprocess a fast park cycle even if exceeding the permissible amount offast park cycles for hard disk drive 20 while notifying a user that thepermissible amount of fast park cycles for hard disk drive 20 has beenmet and/or exceeded.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of a hard driveprotection method in accordance with the present invention. The methodbegins at block 32, where the output from sensor 16 is stored asdetection data 28. At decisional block 34, detection data 28 is comparedto relational data 30 to determine an impending shock event. If a shockevent is not predicted, output of sensor 16 is further monitored atblock 32. If an impending shock event has been detected, the methodproceeds to decisional block 36, where a determination is made whetherthe shock event is one requiring a fast park command (e.g., a free fallevent). For example, detection data 28 is compared to relational data 30to detect the type of impending shock event and the type of parkcommand, if necessary, that should be issued. If it is determined thatthe impending shock event does not necessitate a fast park of hard diskdrive 20 but that the head(s) of hard disk drive 20 should be parked,the method proceeds to block 38, where a command is issued to park thehead(s) of hard disk drive 20 using a normal park cycle. If atdecisional block 36 it is determined that the impending shock eventnecessitates a fast park command (e.g., a free fall condition), themethod proceeds to decisional block 40 where it is determined whetherthe number of previously processed fast park cycles 25 for hard diskdrive 20 is less than a maximum number of permissible fast park cyclesas indicated by fast park cycle data 31. If the number of previouslyprocessed fast park cycles 25 for hard disk drive 20 is less than amaximum number of permissible fast park cycles for hard disk drive 20 asindicated by fast park cycle data 31, the method proceeds to block 42where a fast park command is issued to park the head(s) of hard drive20. At block 44, hard drive protection module 12 causes the fast parkcycle to be logged in memory 24 of hard disk drive 20 (e.g.,incrementing a value of processed fast park cycles 25). If the number ofpreviously processed fast park cycles 25 for hard disk drive 20 is equalto a maximum number of permissible fast park cycles for hard disk drive20 as indicated by fast park cycle data 31, the method proceeds to block38 where a command is issued to 42 where a command is issued to park thehead(s) of disk drive 20 using a normal park mode.

Therefore, embodiments of the present invention automatically determinewhether to park a head(s) of a hard disk drive using a fast park ornormal park mode based on the type of impending shock event detected andbased on the quantity of permissible fast park cycles for a particularhard disk drive. Embodiments of the present invention provide a lowlatency mechanism to configure the drive in a safe state (e.g., a statethat less susceptible to damage during shock events such as free falls).Additionally, embodiments of the present invention prolong the life ofhard disk drive 20 by reducing and/or limiting the number of fast parkcommands issued to park the head(s) of hard disk drive 20.

1.-33. (canceled)
 34. A hard disk drive protection system, comprising: asensor configured to detect an impending shock event; and a hard driveprotection module configured to determine whether to issue a fast parkcommand for a hard disk drive in response to detecting the impendingshock event based in part on a quantity of fast park cycles processed bythe hard disk drive.
 35. The system of claim 34, wherein the hard driveprotection module is configured to access fast park cycle data todetermine the quantity of fast park cycles processed for the hard diskdrive.
 36. The system of claim 34, wherein the hard drive protectionmodule is configured to issue a normal park command for the hard diskdrive if the quantity of fast park cycles processed by the hard diskdrive has reached a predetermined threshold.
 37. The system of claim 34,wherein the impending shock event is a free fall event.
 38. The systemof claim 34, wherein the quantity of fast park cycles processed by thehard disk drive is stored in a memory of the hard disk drive.
 39. Thesystem of claim 34, wherein the hard drive protection module isconfigured to issue an alert indicating that the quantity of fast parkcycles processed by the hard disk drive is approaching a predeterminedthreshold.
 40. The system of claim 34, wherein the hard drive protectionmodule is configured to issue an alert indicating that quantity of fastpark cycles processed by the hard disk drive has reached a predeterminedthreshold.
 41. The system of claim 34, wherein the hard drive protectionmodule is configured to issue an alert indicating that the quantity offast park cycles processed by the hard disk drive has exceeded apredetermined threshold.
 42. A hard disk drive protection method,comprising: detecting an impending shock event; and determining whetherto issue a fast park command for a hard disk drive in response todetecting the impending shock event based in part on a quantity of fastpark cycles processed by the hard disk drive.
 43. The method of claim42, further comprising storing the quantity of fast park cyclesprocessed by the hard disk drive in a memory of the hard disk drive. 44.The method of claim 42, further comprising issuing a normal park commandfor the hard disk drive if the quantity of fast park cycles processedfor the hard disk drive has reached a predetermined threshold.
 45. Themethod of claim 42, further comprising issuing an alert indicating thatthe quantity of fast park cycles processed by the hard disk drive isapproaching a predetermined threshold.
 46. The method of claim 42,further comprising issuing an alert indicating that the quantity of fastpark cycles processed by the hard disk drive has reached a predeterminedthreshold.
 47. The method of claim 42, further comprising issuing analert indicating that the quantity of fast park cycles processed by thehard disk drive has exceeded a predetermined threshold.
 48. A hard diskdrive protection system, comprising: a hard disk drive; and a protectionmodule configured to determine whether to issue a fast park command forthe hard disk drive based in part on a quantity of fast park cyclesprocessed by the hard disk drive.
 49. The system of claim 49, whereinthe quantity of fast park cycles processed by the hard disk drive isstored in a memory of the hard disk drive.
 50. The system of claim 49,wherein the protection module configured to compare the quantity of fastpark cycles processed by the hard disk drive to a predeterminedthreshold to determine whether to issue the fast park command.
 51. Thesystem of claim 49, wherein the protection module is configured to issuean alert indicating the quantity of fast park cycles processed by thehard disk drive.
 52. The system of claim 49, wherein the protectionmodule is configured to issue an alert indicating that the quantity offast park cycles processed by the hard disk drive has exceeded apredetermined threshold.